The main character of Metal Gear is a secret agent navigating a world of espionage and danger.
The main character of Metal Gear is a secret agent navigating a world of espionage and danger.
Hey everyone, just played Metal Gear 5 Ground Zeroes without using the prequal games. I’m still trying to wrap my head around the story and characters. I know Snake (Big Boss) is a complex character—he’s involved in illegal activities but also helps save lives. It reminds me of CoD: Awesome Jonathan Irons. I’ve seen some videos breaking down the game’s narrative, but they don’t really explain the protagonist’s backstory. In one video, it mentions Snake as the final boss in the original game and that another character replaces him. The Phantom Pain is coming soon, and the trailer is pretty confusing. The ending says “Coming 1984,” which is odd. I’m curious if there’s a video that clarifies everything or if I’ll have to dig deeper.
Really, I suggest you dive into Metal Gear Solid 3 -> Peace Walker -> Ground Zeroes. It’s hard to grasp why it doesn’t make sense at first glance. The series feels like an extensive novel, especially with Kojima’s love for cinematic moments. I’ll try to give a brief overview without revealing big plot points.
In the 1960s, Naked Snake (Big Boss) embarked on a Virtuous Mission to protect a key scientist—think of him as the inventor behind a prototype Metal Gear. The mission ended in failure; his mentor had turned against him, forcing him to eliminate both the mentor and her Cobra Unit. After taking down his mentor, he earned the title Big Boss. He left the military and started his own private security firm because he felt conflicted about what his mentor had said before she passed away.
By the 1970s, a Russian character contacts him, claiming his mentor is still alive. On a quest to find her, Snake travels through Central America, uncovering a scheme to trigger a nuclear warhead using an AI-equipped Metal Gear designed to demonstrate the effectiveness of nuclear deterrence. Ground Zeroes picks up right after Peace Walker.
Since Naked Snake was in a coma for nine years suffering from Phantom Pain, he awakens in 1984—echoing George Orwell’s themes. In Peace Walker, you had to build your own base and manage operations; in Ground Zeroes, that base is destroyed, leading to the Red Band Trailer’s message of revenge.
The original Metal Gear game lets you play as his son or clone, trying to prevent the events of the first game from unfolding.
Miller debuts in Peace Walker, a PSP title also available for PS3 as a HD remake. While exploring cassettes in Peacewalker, you'll discover Big Boss encountering him between Peace Walker and Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. Initially opposing Big Boss, he later joins after being defeated and recruited by him. He serves as the second-in-command of Mother Base/MSF.